AWARD OF THE FISHEUY COMMISSION 1985 



15,772 barrels, including the 845 barrels mentioned. In 1ST 4 we had 

 35 vessels engaged in the mackerel fishery, and they packed out i,U!*i 

 barrels. Three vessels went to the gulf, bringing home .V.W barrel*, 

 which are included in the total catch of the ;{."> vessels, l3,0S. In 175 

 we had 37 vessels, which packed out 10,613 barrels. Two of them went 

 to the gulf, and they brought home 270 barrels, which an; include*! in 

 the gross amount stated. 



In 1876 we had 32 vessels, whose total catch was 16,150 barrel*. Two 

 of them went to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, bringing home UUJ barrel*. 

 which are included in the 16,150. These totals make a grand total of 

 144,406 barrels, of which 2,692 were caught in the Gulf of St. Lawrence 

 in 16 voyages, during the several years I have named. The average 

 catch of these vessels since 1872, and since the fishery clause of the 

 Washington Treaty went into effect, was 146 barrels JHT vessel ; ami 

 prior to that the average was 261 barrels per vessel, in the Gulf of Si. 

 Lawrence. 



Q. What becomes of the mackerel in the winter T Does anylxxly 

 know ? A. I can answer that very quickly as far as we know : they go 

 away; but this does not answer the question, I am fully aware. The 

 mackerel are a very curious species of tish. They come on our coast in 

 the early part of the season, and remain there throughout the summer; 

 and when the water becomes chilly they go off into deeper water; bul 

 it is impossible for me or for anybody to tell where they go. In my 

 opinion, however, they go off until they find the right temjH*rature of 

 water, and there I presume they remain until tbe following year, when 

 they return in their annual migration. 



Q. When and where do they first make their appearance in the spring 

 off the coast of the United States ? A. I have had no practical expe- 

 rience in fishing for mackerel south of Cape Cod. My mackerel fishing 

 was carried on in the region of Cape Cod and in the Gulf of St. 

 rence. I know, however, from my own experience, that the farther 

 south you are, the earlier in the year do the mackerel make their ap|>ear- 

 ance. They appear, for instance, earlier off Cape Cod than in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence ; but I have never heard of any vessel going south f< 

 mackerel on our coast farther than Chincoteague Shoals, on the eaul 

 coast of Virginia. 



Q. How far is this point north or south of Norfolk ? A. 1 

 erable distance north of Norfolk. I have heard of men going < 

 this point, but it is the most southern point whore, to my 

 the mackerel fishery is prosecuted early in the season, 

 vessels fish off Cape May early in the year, because the mark 

 at the mouth of Delaware Bay; and afterward the fish arrive i 

 Hook at the entrance to the port of New York, which is auoi 

 mackerel-fishing place. They are taken off I^ong Wand and 

 off Block Island. Mackerel fishers do not like to fl*h a great < 

 a harbor for fear of storm. Later the mackerel reach our bay n 



hook. 



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Cape Cod, and in this manner they make their course i 

 Q. About what time do they reach Province town T- 

 gling specimens are sometimes taken with gill-net* 

 about the 10th of May. I have known them to be cangl. 

 as that or about the middle of May. Then we expect their 

 increase before a great while, and 1 have seen hem there 

 tities as earlv as the 20th of May. 1 have then gone 

 with a boy 14 years of age and caught with my nets ov 

 one night, and the next night we took, I think, V- 



125 F 



